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A near-perfect kids' backpack. The State Kane is sturdy and strong and has the best pocket system we've tried. Read More
These terrific kid-sized backpacks are thoughtfully designed and cute to boot. Read More
A well-constructed backpack that's sized just right and comes in an impressive selection of kid-friendly designs. Read More
Machine washable, with an unparalleled lifetime warranty and sophisticated textile designs, we love this bag for older kids. Read More
The Lands' End Kids ClassMate Extra Large Backpack is a classic, school backpack with four pockets made of washable canvas. Read More
The backpack is the unsung hero of the school years, and a truly great kids' backpack needs to check a lot of boxes. The best kids’ backpacks for school are durable enough to last for years and well-organized to keep school supplies from getting lost or papers from getting crumpled. They should also be structured so they’re comfortable to wear—especially when elementary school students are carrying extra weight.
After a full school year of real-world testing of kids’ backpack the State Kane (available at State) came out as the winner, with Crate & Barrel Kids’ Backpack (available at Crate & Barrel Kids) taking top honors for best value.
Our kid testers left nothing to chance. We are confident in our recommendations that we have found the absolute best in kids’ backpacks for every stage and age.
The recommendations in this guide are based on thorough product and market research by our team of expert product reviewers. The picks are based on examining user reviews, product specifications, and, in some limited cases, our experience with the specific products named.
The State Kane is made with 45% recycled materials and can be personalized with text along the side of the bag as well.
A near-perfect backpack for kids from grade three and beyond, this bag will last for years and its organizational system is the best we experienced.
Made with extra thick polyester, we took delight in durability testing where we found this bag to be impervious to damage. A large main pocket has six, semi-translucent, water-resistant organizational pockets, which allow kids to see where everything is at a glance. The water-resistant materials consistently kept items safe and clean, even in the face of spills.
A dedicated back compartment includes a padded sleeve that’s perfect for a 15’ laptop and keeps electronic devices safe, even when dropped.
We found this backpack to not only be an excellent choice for older kids but, because of the clear internal pockets and intuitive organizational systems, if your child suffers from ADHD or any other types of executive functioning issues, this bag could be a game-changer.
A good range of prints
The pockets and the padding helped made the Crate & Barrel backpack a winner with kids and parents.
Simplicity, size, and durability—at a terrific price point—made the Crate & Barrel Large Kids backpack our best value pick for kids’ backpacks.
Kids went crazy over the fun designs, and parents loved the resilience of this bag. This bag was tested by a resident bookworm who insisted on bringing three to four encyclopedias to school each day. Not only did the design of the bag support this weight on our tester's small frame, it never showed signs of wear.
An ergonomically padded back, with extra-lower back padding make this a comfortable pack that can sustain hours of wear, while an extra sturdy, padded laptop sleeve ensures devices are well-cared for. Two extra-large water bottle sleeves make this a great choice for kids who like to carry extra hydration, while daisy chain straps provide options for carrying extra essentials.
Read our full Crate & Barrel Large Kids backpack review.
The Pottery Barn Mackenzie not only comes in a wide range of kid-friendly designs, it's thoughtfully made with just the right amount of bells and whistles.
The Mackenzie by Pottery Barn Kids is truly made with children in mind—and for kids from preschool to third grade, you can’t beat it. Available in dozens of playful and colorful designs, the kid-centric details make this bag a winner. Its sturdy construction makes this backpack durable enough to stand up to the rigors that grade schoolers put their belongings through.
We appreciate thoughtful details like the front daisy chain (ideal for fun charms or for hanging hand sanitizer), perfectly proportioned organizational pouches for school supplies, an interior label (for when the bag inevitably gets misplaced), and two sturdy pockets for water bottles.
The pockets are roomy without being cavernous, and the bag is made with rugged 600-denier polyester, a high-density, water-resistant fabric that is often used for camp chairs. The fabric, while durable, isn’t overly heavy or itchy.
This bag also takes into account kids' proportions and body shapes. The large size we tested fits well on kids ages 6 to 11—it doesn’t dwarf smaller kids and it offers enough room to fit everything an incoming fourth- or fifth-grader might need.
The Mackenzie is available in a range of sizes, too, so students can find the right bag no matter their age.
The JanSport SuperBreak Plus is sturdy, rugged, and offers an unparalleled lifetime warranty.
JanSport features classic backpack designs and has for just over 50 years; its styles are frequent favorites among the high school and college crowds, too. In fact, the JanSport Main Campus backpack is our classic pick among best backpacks for secondary and older students.
Like the JanSport Main Campus, the JanSport SuperBreak Plus is sturdy, rugged, and offers an unparalleled lifetime warranty. This makes it a quality backpack from top to bottom—and it’s a great value.
Super strong zippers on all of the pouches are protected with storm flaps, and the well-padded internal laptop sleeve showed no sign of tear during our testing. Even though the lifetime warranty is a big bonus when purchasing this workhorse of a backpack, it’s so well-made that we aren’t sure you’ll ever need to actually use the warranty.
While you can certainly get away with this backpack with younger kids, we recommend it for third grade and up. The JanSport SuperBreak Plus' size is a bit bulky for smaller kids and the styles are more sophisticated.
It has one main compartment and a small front pouch with barebones internal organizer pockets. It also doesn't have any special comfort details, which we think are necessary for younger kids.
The Lands' End Kids ClassMate Backpack comes in sizes small to extra-large.
The Lands' End ClassMate backpack is one of this classic retailer’s most notable products—along with swimsuits and basic comfort clothing.
This backpack is super lightweight for kids that don't want to carry around extra bulk. It comes in sizes small to extra-large, and it is spacious no matter what size you buy, with various pouches. Its straps are soft and sturdy, and it also features a padded back and adjustable chest strap for even weight distribution. Its zippers zip smoothly—we tested this hundreds of times.
Two sturdy mesh pockets will hold your kid’s favorite water bottle, there are loads of patterns to choose from.
The ClassMate has an interior folder pocket that you could confuse—or use—as a laptop sleeve, so if your elementary school kid really needs to lug around their Chromebook, you may want to look for another more secure option.
Read our full Lands’ End ClassMate backpack review
The North Face Youth Court Jester Backpack is a good pick for sporty kids.
We are huge fans of North Face products overall. The brand’s no-strings-attached lifetime warranty and the overall construction of all of its products is consistently impressive. This bag, the North Face Youth Court Jester, is no different. It’s made with quality materials that are built to last and thoughtful design considerations that make this backpack well-sized and well-suited for kids.
Standout features include 360-degree reflectivity and a durable design meant to withstand the wear and tear that children put the backpack through.
While this bag doesn’t come in a lot of design choices that younger kids can get excited about, middle schoolers will appreciate the more sophisticated style.
The L.L. Bean Original Book Pack has plenty of quality finishes.
You can’t beat a classic. The L.L. Bean Original is virtually unchanged since its 1982 debut, and this consistency is mainly due to the fact that the Maine-based brand has done a lot of things right. This bag is sturdy, simple, and comes with a generous one-year warranty.
As you may expect from L.L. Bean, this pack has plenty of quality finishes. The bag and pouches are made from a seemingly indestructible nylon, the zipper to the main pouch is covered with a storm flap for protection against raindrops, a 3M Scotchlite reflective strip is placed on the front for any kids that get to school on foot or by bike, and it has well-constructed zipper pouches to keep smaller items organized. It’s also machine washable, which is the holy grail of kids’ backpacks.
While this backpack has minimal padding, there are no ergonomic elements and it lacks features like contoured straps and a chest strap. Smaller kids may feel uncomfortable wearing this. It also lacks a laptop sleeve to keep older kids' devices well-protected.
The Wildkin 15-inch backpack is a good option as a first pack.
For a first school bookbag, the Wildkin 15-inch backpack is a solid choice—it’s affordable and comfortable for kids. It doesn’t have all the organizational pockets that other picks have, but preschoolers and kindergarteners don’t require everything secondary school students need.
This Wildkins model has one water bottle pocket that fits smaller bottles that younger students often use. Available in patterns ranging from dinosaurs to unicorns, this bag will allow your student to make a back-to-school fashion statement, too.
The L.L. Bean Original backpack has been around since 1982. There's a reason it's been considered a classic for over 30 years.
As it turns out, there's a lot to consider when buying a kids' backpack—particularly if you want it to last for more than one school year. Is it worth paying more for a tested classic like L.L. Bean, JanSport, and Lands’ End, or do you spend less and bank on replacing it next year? We asked a group of 20 parents with kids ages 5 to 12 what they look for when buying a kids' school backpack. Here is what they told us.
Not all kids' backpacks are created equal. Many are just smaller versions of adult backpacks, and they don't take into account a child's body and how kids will be able to manage the weight of a standard backpack. Our favorite backpack, the Pottery Barn Mackenzie, has an ergonomic design that is made with a child in mind.
If you're worried about weight, look for bags with contoured and padded shoulder straps, chest straps, and that have an element of back padding.
Time and time again, parents we talked with voiced frustrations with water bottle pockets. First and foremost, these holders should accommodate bottles of all sizes. Restrictive bottle pockets that only accommodate 8-ounce bottles are a source of frustration.
Parents also cautioned to look for bottle holders that won't rip over time, as is the case with many full mesh bottle holders. We recommend looking for ones that are either canvas or a canvas-and-mesh combo.
Teaching a young child how to be organized is no small feat. In your backpack of choice, look for smart organizational features, including internal pouches or easy-to-access smaller pockets.
Be sure to look for backpacks that don’t overdo it in the pockets department, though. Keep in mind that too many pockets—particularly when some are too deep—can result in lost papers, permission slips, and sometimes lost food items. Yuck.
There are so many options when shopping for cute and cool backpacks for kids. Packs often come in fun colors and designs that kids in preschool and kindergarten up to the biggest kids will love. Often, matching lunch bags are available for purchase, as well.
If you’re looking for the best backpack that will work through middle school and into high school, though, you may want to avoid style choices that don’t evolve as your child ages.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time. The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.
Former Senior Staff Writer, Travel & Commerce
Janelle Randazza is a writer/mother hybrid and taco enthusiast based out of Los Angeles, California.
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